NHL postpones Blackhawks-Sabres game in Buffalo because of snow-related travel restrictions

January 17, 2024 4:05 pm • Last Updated: January 17, 2024 6:25 pm

By Associated Press

Snow falls on a residential street in Buffalo, N.Y., Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. Heavy lake-effect snow was forecast in Buffalo, with up to 4 inches an hour expected through the afternoon. City hall was closed, and school districts declared snow days. Travel bans were issued for several suburbs. The winter blast comes days after a storm that delayed an NFL playoff game for a day. (AP Photo/Carolyn Thompson)

Buffalo, N.Y. — The NHL has postponed the game between the Chicago Blackhawks and Buffalo Sabres because of travel restrictions in western New York for extreme winter weather.

The league announced the game scheduled for Wednesday night would instead be played Thursday night. There's a travel ban in place for the city of Buffalo and local executives were hoping the league would move back the game in the name of public safety.

The Blackhawks had made it to town, which is usually enough for the NHL to decide to go on with a game. But a lake effect storm was projected to dump 2 feet of snow on the region.

This postponement comes after the NFL pushed back the playoff game between the Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers from Sunday to Monday for the last round of snow that hit the area last weekend. The game went ahead Monday with snow in the stands and Buffalo winning 31-17.

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